Aflibercept
About Aflibercept
Aflibercept belongs to the group of medicines called anti-angiogenic ophthalmic agents. It is mainly used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, and macular edema after retinal vein occlusion. It is also used to treat diabetic macular oedema, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity.
Aflibercept contains Aflibercept, which is a vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and placental growth factor (PlGF) antagonist. It works by stopping abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the eyes that may cause vision loss in people with eye conditions.
Aflibercept will be administered by the doctor; do not self-administer. In some cases, Aflibercept may cause side effects such as eye pain, bleeding in the back of the eye, cataracts, bloodshot eyes and deterioration of eyesight. You are advised to talk to the doctor if any of the side effects persist or worsen.
Let the doctor know about your allergic history before using Aflibercept. Discontinue and inform your physician if the patient develops any allergic reactions. Consult the doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning for pregnancy. Aflibercept is not recommended during breastfeeding. Keep the doctor informed about your health condition and medications to rule out any side effects.
Uses of Aflibercept
Medicinal Benefits
Aflibercept is an anti-angiogenic ophthalmic agent used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, macular oedema, diabetic macular oedema and diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity. Aflibercept contains Aflibercept, a vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and placental growth factor (PlGF) antagonist. It works by stopping abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the eyes that may cause vision loss in people with eye conditions. It helps stabilise and improve vision loss.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Aflibercept
- Eye pain
- Bloodshot eye
- Deterioration of eyesight
- Bleeding in the back of the eye
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Increase in eye pressure
- Cataract
Drug Warnings
Do not receive Aflibercept if you are allergic to any of its components. This medicine is contraindicated in patients with any history of allergies, active or suspected infection in or around the eye, or if you have severe eye inflammation (pain or redness in the eye). Consult the doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning for pregnancy. Let your doctor know if you have any conditions like glaucoma, blood clot, stroke, a history of seeing flashes of light or floaters, if you have a sudden increase in size and the number of floaters or if you have undergone or are due to undergo any eye surgery. Let the doctor know if you are taking any other medicines, including supplements or herbal products. Aflibercept is not recommended for use in children. It is advised to discontinue the medicine and inform your attending doctor if you have any allergic reactions while receiving Aflibercept.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Inform the doctor if you are using or have recently used any other medicines.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions were found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform the doctor if you have an active or suspected infection in or around the eye or severe eye inflammation (pain or redness in the eye).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Aflibercept. Please consult the doctor.
Pregnancy
cautionAflibercept belongs to pregnancy category C. Aflibercept should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Women of reproductive potential must use effective birth control pills to avoid pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
cautionSmall amounts of the medicine may pass into breast milk. Your doctor will decide whether to discontinue nursing or the medicine, taking into account the importance of the medicine to the mother.
Driving
unsafeAflibercept may cause temporary vision disturbances. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you experience this.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have a history of liver problems, inform the doctor before receiving Aflibercept.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have a history of kidney problems, inform the doctor before receiving Aflibercept.
Children
cautionThe safety and effectiveness of Aflibercept in children have not been established except for retinopathy of prematurity. However, please consult the paediatrician if you have any concerns.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Include vegetables, whole grains, and fruits in your diet.
- Get optimal sleep; rest well.
Special Advise
- Women of reproductive potential must use effective contraception during treatment with Aflibercept and for 3 months after the last dose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that causes vision loss. In wet macular degeneration, leaky blood vessels grow under the retina, which causes loss of the ability to see straight ahead and difficulty in reading, driving or performing daily activities.
Macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion: It occurs when blood vessels leak into the macula (a part of the retina). This causes macula swelling and blurred vision. Retinal vein occlusion is the blockage of small veins that carry blood away from the retina, occurring due to the hardening of arteries or the formation of blood clots. Symptoms include sudden blurring or vision loss.
Diabetic macular oedema: It is a complication of diabetes that occurs when excess fluid starts to build up in the macula of the eye, leading to vision problems. Symptoms are blurry vision, double vision, seeing floaters, and seeing colours that look washed out.
Diabetic retinopathy: It is a diabetic eye disease that occurs when the retina starts growing new blood vessels. Symptoms are vision loss, poor night vision, colours appearing faded or washed out, blurry vision, and seeing an increasing number of floaters.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): ROP is a disease-causing vision impairment due to damage to the back of the eye (the retina) caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels.
FAQs
Aflibercept is used to treat Wet age-related macular degeneration, Macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion, Diabetic macular oedema, Diabetic retinopathy, and Retinopathy of prematurity.
Aflibercept works by stopping abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the eyes that may cause vision loss in people with eye conditions.
In some patients, Aflibercept may cause intraocular pressure (an increase in eye pressure) after administering Aflibercept. Hence, your doctor will monitor this condition after each administration.
Limited data is available regarding the safety of Aflibercept in patients who have had a stroke, mini-stroke, or heart attack. Inform your doctor if you have had a stroke or heart attack. Your doctor will administer Aflibercept with caution.
